Report urges MPs and all parties to act on preventable deaths
August 12, 2008
On the eve of the State election, WA's 91 Members of Parliament have been challenged to make health a priority issue by acting to reduce the number of preventable deaths in their electorates.
For the first time in Australia, each State MP has received a comprehensive report detailing how many of their constituents have died from preventable causes such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol use or physical inactivity.
The report, 'Preventable Deaths by Western Australian Upper and Lower House Electorates', looks at preventable deaths from 2001 to 2005.
It was prepared by the Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA on the basis of calculations by Dr David Preen from UWA's School of Population Health.
Federal AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, who chairs the PHAIWA Board, said the report was a much needed wake up call for the Government and the Opposition.
"For too long prevention has been the Cinderella of our health system and it's up to MPs to take on the challenge and ensure we have action – not just talk," she said.
"The reality is that politicians lose hundreds of their constituents every year, but few realise just how many deaths from heart disease, stroke, various cancers, respiratory disease, alcohol and injuries could have been prevented."
Institute Director Professor Mike Daube said the report made sobering reading for many MPs who thought preventable deaths were not a major election issue in their electorate.
"While they recognise that issues such as crime or education might be their responsibility, it's now time MPs and their parties acknowledged they had a role in trying to reduce the number of people dying from preventable diseases," he said.
Professor Daube said the report calculated for 20 selected risk factors for the leading diseases causing mortality. Electorate results were assigned a ranking score, indicating the electorates with the highest numbers of preventable deaths in WA.
"This report makes it clear to politicians from all parties that preventable deaths are not just large numbers to be considered at a national or state level," he said.
"We want MPs to make sure action is taken so that more of their constituents do not die early."
Prof Daube said all political parties and MPs would be asked to commit to a specific prevention policy including:
1. Increasing funding for public health from about $130 million to at least $200 million.
2. Substantial new funding for public education programs in tobacco, alcohol and obesity and programs that will address the disadvantage faced by Indigenous people.
3. Legislation to ban smoking in cars with children and all alfresco dining areas, and make all cigarette sales "below-the-counter."
4. A comprehensive alcohol prevention program that includes early implementation of strong repeat drink driver legislation.
5. An obesity prevention program that addresses nutrition, physical activity, environmental factors and promotion of junk food.
6. A comprehensive prevention program as part of their election manifestos covering the above issues and other major prevention issues such as child health, mental health and environmental health.
Professor D'Arcy Holman, from UWA's School of Population Health, said the report revealed the ravages on the community caused by obesity, smoking, not eating enough fresh produce, physical inactivity, alcohol and injury risks.
"Hopefully, these appalling figures on preventable deaths make candidates and political parties realise a fresh approach to 'prevention is better than cure' is required in their election policies," he said.
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